Or maybe I should say Happy Groundhog Day! I have removed the Christmas wreath from our front door and hung a glittering Valentine heart. (I can honestly say I do not own even one groundhog decoration, and I was in Punxsutawney, PA just last Friday to visit one of my favorite aunts who is in the hospital there…) All our Christmas decorations are packed away until next December, seasons come and seasons go and soon another year slips away. And with each one we gain more memories and become another year older. We returned a short time ago from our granddaughter’s basketball game, she will be eighteen in three weeks. Why is it that our grandchildren’s childhoods seem to pass so much faster than our own did? It seems like only last year she was a sweet little toddler and now she is a beautiful young lady.

The anthology that includes my short story, The Callahan Sisters, was delayed by a few weeks. We hope it will be released in February.

This month I’ve also read several other books:

Sleepwalker by Chris Bohjalian. A contemporary novel. It was a deep and sad story full of deception, loss with an unexpected ending.

Mr. Churchill’s Secretary by Susan Elia Machneal. An historical novel. A novel about WW II like none other I have ever read. At first I had a bit of trouble keeping track of all the characters but it was worth the effort to keep them all sorted out. The protagonists brilliant mathematical mind makes her a gifted code breaker at a pivotal time in history. Great plot and memorable characters. I highly recommend this one.

Librerace’s Filipino Cousin by David R. Brubaker. Travel essays. This is an insightful book about the author’s travels in the Philippines over a period of twenty years. Even if you’ve never felt compelled to travel there, it is worth reading. Brubaker introduces the reader to a different culture in a nonjudgmental way. It is a witty fun book that will very likely change your attitude about the Philippines.

Two by Two by Nickolas Sparks. Contemporary novel. It is well written with a similar plot to some of his other books. The protagonists grows from being a doormat to a successful and likable character. An good read for cold winter nights.

Moonglow by Michael Chaban. A memoir. This was a Christmas gift and my first experience with this award winning author. it did not grab me from the start but I forced myself to stay with it and I am glad I did. His disclaimer started, “I have stuck to the facts except when facts refused to conform with memory…” Chaban is an outstanding writer, he moved his life story along with wit, enough action and plot twists to have been an excellent novel.

We have seen four worthwhile movies that I highly recommend:

Patriots Day with Mark Wahlberg, etc. about the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing. Excellent!

Snowden The NSA’s illegal surveillance techniques are leaked to public…is he an hero or traitor? Watch the movie and then decide, excellent!

Miracles from Heaven with Jennifer Garner, etc. A family dealing with the fatal illness of their young daughter, excellent!

Hidden Figures with Octavia Spencer, etc. Historical NASA about the early days of the space exploration and the rivalry with Russia. And the black women who worked behind the scenes doing the difficult mathematical equations necessary for the launches. All the while having to drink for colored only drinking fountains and using colored only restrooms. Excellent!!